Breakwater



A 1934- R. E. CHADWICK 1 BREAKWATER Filed April 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR R.E.CHADWIGK Aug. 7, 1934. R. E. CHADWICK BREAKWATER Filed April 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT on R-E-CHADWICK WmW/z ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1934. R. E. CHADWICK BREAKWATER Filed April 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IFJQLQ Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES BREAKWATER Richard E. Chadwick, Westmount, Quebec,

s Canada,

Application April20, 1933, Serial No. 666,982

In Canada April 8, 1933 I 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction and mode of installing breakwaters for the protection of completed or partiallycompleted wharves, docks, piers, foundations, lighthouses and other structures erected on the bed of a river or other body of water, or as a protective barrier in connection with vessel salvaging operations and similar work.

An object of this invention is to provide a breakwater of improved construction that may be easily installed as a temporary or permanent structure in places where strong tidal or other currents must be contended with and which, when installed for temporary. use, may be readily freed from its weighting means and reclaimed for subsequent use in other locations.

Another object is to provide a breakwater comprising a preformed unitary frame of rigid construction designed to permit convenient handling thereof by conventional hoisting equipment when the frame is being installed "or when it is being reclaimed after a period of temporary use. Another object is to provide a breakwater comprising a unitary rigid frame structure of skeleton form presenting relatively large openings for the flow of water therethrough so that the, frame may be grounded in place with less difficulty than is usually encountered in the presence of strong currents, the openings in the frame being subsequently closed by sheet piling or the like applied to. the frame after it has been anchored inposition.

A still further object is to provide'various improved methods of weighting the breakwater that may be used selectively-depending upon the design of the frame structure and-the conditions under which it is installed.

Other objectsycharacteristic features and advantages of this invention,'as well as the preferred details of construction, will be developed in the "following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a breakwater Iconstructed and installed in accordance with this invention. s I

' Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the breakwater frame as it appears without the sheet piling which is applied to close ,off the flow openings through the frame after the latter has been installed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1. r 4

Fig. 5 is a top plan view illustrating a modified B and C' are connected to the opposing'upper i110 form of leg structure for supporting theframe of the breakwater. I v v The frame structure of the breakwater provided in accordance with this invention comprises spaced vertical members'5, 5afand 5b constituting supporting legs rigidly connected to each other by openwork bracing generally indicated at 6-in Figs. 1 and 2. This openwork bracing provides, between the several legs, openings of considerable area which are left clear for the flow of water 5 therethrough during installation of the frame so that, in the presence of strong'currents, such'installation is 'more easily accomplishedthan would be the caseif the open spaces between the legs were of negligible area or. completely closed oil. Generally speaking, the frame structure may include any desired number of supporting legs of hollow or. solid construction and of any desired shape. These legs may also be made in one continuous length as shown herein 'or they maybe composed of sections assembled one upon the other. -In the construction shown in the present drawings the frame comprises'three supporting legs consisting of hollow vertical cylinders I'ar-. ranged in triangular formation, the cylinder 5 being at the apex of the triangle and of somewhat greater diameter than the two remaihing'cylin ders 5a and 5b. Each of these legs or cylinders is provided at the down stream 'sidewithan at,- tached casing 7 which, when filled with concrete, as indicated at 8, constitutes a rigid backingthat reinforces the cylinder against thefpressureof the current, besides affording a stream line, effect eliminating the formationof eddies. 1 The system of bracing connecting the supporting-legs of the framestructure maybe varied according, to the size of the frame, the number .and arrangement of the supporting legs-and the conditions underwhich they frame is to beinstalled. As here shown the-bracing connecting they supporting leg 5 with theremaining .legs 511 and 5b comprises, in each instance, :three vertically spaced horizontal connecting members indicated at A, B and C. The member'Acomprises'two laterally spaced channels 9 having 11 comprises a pair of upper laterally spaced angles 14 and a pair of lower similarly spaced angles 15 terminally attached to the leg carried flanges 16 and 17. Preferably, the upper and lower angles 14 and '15 at one side: of the members verticalangles '19 and 20 are connected to the theamember Dby companion vertical angles 21 and 22 by connecting plates indicated at 24, 25, 26' and 27,

found particularly useful because of theease with which it may be applied or removed it may, if desired, be replaced by boarding, concrete slabs orany other suitable means for closing off the openings through the bracing at opposite sides of the cylinder 5. If it is desired to close off the three sides of the frame the sheetpiling, boarding or slabs may also be applied to cover the bracing connecting the cylinders 5a and 5b aswell as to the bracing connecting these cylinthe outer ends of the plates 25.being projected ders with the cylinder 5.

somewhat beyond the angles 19 and 20 and coa nected together by a bolt 28 carrying an! eye 29 to which hoisting cables 30 maybe attached for the purpose of loweringor raising the frame during installation or reclaiming operations. The

horizontal connecting membersfi B anjd C may also be tied together by suitable diagonal. brace ing such as thatgenerally indicated at 3 2;v

The bracing provided between the supporting ;;legsg5a and 5b-i-s-shown toadvantage'in Figs.

1 and 4. It comprises three-vertically spaced are in the form of I: beams having vtheir ends connectedto the legs 5e and' 5b and their centralaportions connected to each other and to the vertical I-be'ams indicated at G andaH;

v Additional bracing, for the upper. portion of the framestr-u'cture'may be: provided in the form of: a series of I=beams J connected between the channel jmember: D' and an I-b'eamvK the latter tionseconnected by a? shortI-beamL with the reinforcing casing-7 of the supporting. leg 5*.

.1 In Fig. 11 the triangular framexis shown grounded at: theiupstreamside: of the protected 'structureiwhich' is indicated at O; The frame -isflowered to this. position with the aid of any ablefringstfi placed. each or." the cylinders 5, Strand 5b,. said rings being supported by an-' nularrifianges 36: attachedto the lower portions of therflegs; 'Due to the size of the cylinder 5 and the weighting: rings placed therein compared -With3the: remaining cylinders and weighting rings sufiicient weight is concentrated at the apex'of the frame to -resistoverturning'of the frame in the direction of thestructure 0' which it protectsi" After the frame has been Weighted in place: the'open-work bracing at each-side of the cylinder 5 is: closed off toprovideinclihed surfaces for deflecting the current away from the protected structure. This may be accomplished in: various ways butl prefer toemploy the steel sheet: piling shown Fig. 1, since sections-of this" piling can be conveniently slid into" place from a positifori abovethe weighted frame; The sheet piling used'in' this connection is of well known' 'constructioir. It comprises a plurality of sections 38 having their longitudinal edges slidably interlockedas at 38220" sc= that these sections maybe"- readily applied or removed by'rel'ati've sliding movement their'lengthwise direction, theiterminal sections of. the": piling at each. side of the'frame; being preferably welded or otherwise fastened to. the cylinders 5, 5m and. 5b 'asj indicated; at 394.; while'thisatyperofz pilinghas been Instead of being made in the form of sheet '7 metah'cylinders, each of the legs 5, 5a and 51) may, ,asshown in Fig,,5., consist of a cage-like tubular structure comprising a circular series of vertical steel or other members 40 bound together in I columnformationby hooping 41. In this case r the supporting flange 42 for the weight rings 35 iswelded or otherwise secured to the lower portion of the vertical members 40. Various .other forms ofhollowlegs may also be employed in place of those mentionedherein.

Instead of using the-weightingrings 35 various other methodsofv weighting; the frame in place may be resorted to. For example, theihollow legs of the frame, may befilled with'materials such as concrete, sand, stone, gravel; or-v cement.:or they may be weighted ,down by placing; therein heavy objects such as steel rails'or the-like;

,When the cylinders are weighted with concrete or with cement mixed with sand, stone or "gravel, provision may be made in: various waysfor' spilling a po ion of the weighting material through the lower end of one or more of: the legs whenever it is necessary to build up an artificial foundation beneath the legs to compensate fo-rvariations the contour of? the natural foundation. Various expedients may be resortedto-in:connection with; the: vspilling of. the weighting material through the-lower ends: of the legs. E'ach leg may be provided: at its lower end with. a. support for the weighting material in. the'form of a down; wardly opening door that is openediorpermitted to openwhen conditions. arise. where it isfneces saryrto permit a certainamount of the material to: be spilled through the doorway to build up a mound or artificial foundation Asan alternative to this,*each leg could beprovided atits'lower end with a support for the weighting material in the form of a relatively thin bottom-wall which ings of these rings provide apassa'geidownthrough the centre of each leg for the. introduction of material intendedto be spilled through the bot:- tom of the leg when, this is" necessaryto? build up an artificial foundation; Another advantage incident-to the use of these weighting rings is that spuds or piles having pointed: lower ends may bepassed downwardly through: the openings in the rings and the pointed ends driven into the foundation below the leg to anchor the latter against lateral displacement, i

Having thus fully described whatlnow: cone si'd'er to be the preferred embodiment of this invention it will beunderstood' that various modiffications and desirable, changes may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. i

Havingthus described my, invention,;what I lai r I .11

Abreakwater comprising-a frame including three widely spaced, hollow supporting legs arranged in triangular formation and rigidly interconnected by openwork bracing leaving flow openings of substantial area between the legs, and detachable members connected across the spaces between the legs to provide removable closures for said openings.

2. A breakwater including a unitary skeleton frame structure comprising three widely spaced Vertical supporting legs rigidly connected to each other by openwork bracing to provide a triangular structure the corners of which are formed by the legs and the sides of which are formed by the bracing, members detachably connected between said legs to form a removable barrier to the flow of water between the legs, and means for weighting the legs in place, the diameter of one of said legs being greater than that of the two remaining legs.-

3. A breakwater comprising a frame structure including hollow supporting legs rigidly attached to each other by openwork bracing, an annular supporting flange located in the lower portion of each leg and a plurality of centrally apertured ring-shaped weighting members arranged one upon the other on top of said flange.

4. A breakwater or deflector comprising three widely spaced vertical supporting legs interconnected by openwork bracing to form a triangular frame structure, the corners of which are formed by said legs.

5. A breakwater or deflector as claimed in claim 4 including ring-shaped weighting members removably supported within each of said legs, one of said legs and the weighting members therein being larger in diameter than the remaining legs and weighting members.

6. A breakwater comprising a frame including three widely spaced supporting legs arranged in triangular formation and rigidly interconnected by openwork bracing leaving flow openings of substantial area between the legs, said legs being of hollow tubular construction and the leg at the apex of the frame being larger in diameter than the two remaining legs.

'7. A breakwater comprising a frame including widely spaced supporting legs arranged in triangular formation, bracing connecting each leg with the two companion legs and forming the.

three sides of the frame, the corners of which are formed by said legs, and additional bracing connecting the bracing at each side of the frame with the bracing at the two remaining sides.

8. A breakwater comprising a frame including three widely spaced supporting legs arranged in triangular formation and interconnected by openwork bracing leaving flow openings of substantial area between the legs and casings attached to the rear side of each leg adapted to be filled with reinforcing material. 1

9. A breakwater or deflector comprising a series of widely spaced vertical supporting legs, openwork bracing rigidly connecting said legs to form a unitary frame having openings of substantial area between said legs, and casings carried by the rear portions of the legs adapted to be filled with reinforcing and weighting material.

10. A breakwater comprising a series of widely spaced vertical supporting legs, said legs being of hollow tubular formation and open at their upper ends for the reception of reinforcing and weighting material, openwork bracing rigidly con- 7 necting said legs to form a unitary rigid. frame having flow openings of substantial area between said legs and casings attached to the rear portions of said legs adapted to be filled with reinforcing and weighting material.

11. A breakwater as claimed in claim 10 in which the legs are arranged in triangular formation and in which the leg at the apex of the triangle is larger in diameter than the two remaining legs.

12. A breakwater comprising a frame structure including three widely spaced supporting legs arranged in triangular formation and rigidly considerable area between the legs to reduce the pressure on the frame during grounding thereof, and means for closing off the front openings of the frame at each side of the apex thereof subsequent to the grounding of the frame, said means comprising members detachably connected to the legs to span the spaces between the legs at the apex ofthe frame and the legs at the two remain ing corners of the frame.

RICHARD E. CHADWICK. 

